Pompeo and Mattis tell US senators to remain engaged in Yemen war

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis made a last-ditch attempt yesterday to convince Congress to refrain from action that would cripple the US role in Yemen or endanger relations with Saudi Arabia.

Amid mounting pressure on the Trump administration after the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, and as Congress considers sanctions against Riyadh, the administration sent Mr Pompeo and Mr Mattis to urge restraint.

“I must note we are seldom free to work with unblemished partners,” Mr Mattis said, according to advance briefing notes.

“Our security interests cannot be dismissed, even as we seek accountability for what President Trump described as the ‘unacceptable and horrible crime’ of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.”

Mr Pompeo yesterday defended America’s support for Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war, warning Congress that the conflict would worsen without US involvement.

“The suffering in Yemen grieves me but if the US were not involved in Yemen, it would be a lot worse,” he said.

“What would happen if the US withdrew from the Yemen effort? Guess what: the war wouldn’t end.”

Questions about the extent of the US role and what American intelligence services knew about the Khashoggi killing were on legislators’ minds before the briefing.

“What obviously happened is completely abhorrent to everything the US holds dear and stands for in the world,” Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday. “We are discussing what the appropriate response should be.”

But CIA director Gina Haspel did not take part in the briefing. CNN reported on Tuesday that the White House had not cleared her participation.

But the briefing, which took place before a critical vote in Congress on the War Powers Resolution today, was to convince most of the Senate to vote against a bill that would force the US to end its military role in Yemen.

Last time Congress took that bill was in March and it fell short by six votes.

“Tragedies occur in war,” Mr Mattis said. “We assess restraint and improved tactical judgment by Arab Coalition pilots has reduced the risk of civilian casualties.”

But senators Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy and Mike Lee continued yesterday to try to get the 51 votes needed to introduce the resolution.

While more legislators were expected to support the bill than the 44 senators in March, it was not clear if they would be a slight majority.

Senators Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy and Mike Lee tried to get the 51 votes needed to introduce the resolution